Total Cost of Ownership: Batteries, Tires, and Service

Beyond purchase price, the real cost of mobile robotics lies in batteries, consumables, and service uptime. Understanding TCO helps justify automation — and avoid post-deployment surprises.

Batteries

• LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate): Long life and thermal stability; ideal for multi-shift work.
• NMC: Higher energy density, suited for longer runs but more costly to service.
• Charging: On-the-fly opportunity charging extends runtime without extra bays.

Tires and Drivetrains

Rubber wear and wheel misalignment are often overlooked. Establish rotation schedules and log cumulative distance — a key KPI for predictive maintenance.

Service and Software Updates

Modern AMR fleets include over-the-air updates. Plan maintenance windows like IT patch cycles, with rollback options validated before rollout.

Example

An FMCG plant extended AMR uptime to 97% by introducing automatic battery health checks and weekly firmware validation routines.

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Conclusion

TCO visibility ensures long-term success. Batteries and maintenance define profitability far more than robot price — track both from day one.